Preferred Options for Sites

Object

Representation ID: 64509

Received: 04/05/2014

Respondent: Leamington FC Supporters Co-operative Ltd

This site is not available and would only be made available if appropriate alternative facilities can be found and secured. Any new site would need to meet in full the requirements of Sport England's Playing Fields Policy - 'A Sporting Future for the Playing Fields of England' Policy Exception E4, which would ensure any replacement facility is of equal or better quality.

The club offers social value and community benefits to the local area eg the club participates in a range of community events and initiatives, the club promotes sport/exercise, the site is used for charity fundraisers, clubhouse facilities available for use, offers space for nursery groups, fayres, car boot sales, car parking etc.

Loss of sports land and buildings is contrary to the NPPF in this instance as neither the land nor buildings are surplus to requirements, there is no definite proposal for better provision elsewhere with any current proposals being vague and without timetable, and the re-use of the site is not for a sports/leisure purpose.

Loss of the site would be contrary to the Warwick Sustainable Community Strategy as it offers sporting/leisure opportunities and potentially helps reduce anti-social behaviour.